European online bookmaker Marathonbet has raised eyebrows confirming that it will act as official shirt sponsor of Serie A football club SS Lazio.

Marathonbet details that it has secured a fixed short-term sponsorship with Lazio, which will terminate in January 2019 as the Italian government imposes its blanket ban on betting/gambling advertising, sponsorships and marketing across all media and sports verticals.

During the European football post-season, Marathonbet has expanded its club sponsorship portfolio securing partnerships with Manchester City FC and Spain’s Girona FC.

“Working with a club with such an illustrious history as that of Lazio emphasises our intention to continue our growth in the Italian market and beyond, and we cannot wait to see the club’s path, both nationally and in Europe, this season,” Zavodnik commented on securing the Lazio sponsorship.

As Serie A’s new football season kicked off this weekend, industry trade body LOGiCO urged all Italian betting stakeholders forrestraint and self-discipline in their marketing and messaging.

Despite facing substantial criticism from Italian media and sports stakeholders, Italy’s Parliament states that it won’t impede the implementation of the Dignity Decree, which Lega-5Star expect to fully deployed by June 2019, thus commencing Italy’s blackout on gambling advertising.